The Bodyguard (1992)

This week, the team takes on one of the biggest cinematic phenomena of the early '90s: The Bodyguard (1992). A film that smashed box office records, made slow dancing cool again, and somehow convinced us that a love story between a moody security expert and a petulant pop diva was cinema gold. On paper, this had it all: the biggest male movie star in the world, Kevin Costner and the most powerful voice on the planet, Whitney Houston, in her film debut. But does that combo equal instant classic, or is it just a glittery dumpster fire covered in hit singles?

Whitey dives headfirst into the spectacle with a hard truth: this movie takes itself way too seriously. We’re talking Oscar-level intensity… for what is essentially a Lifetime movie with a better budget. Of course, there’s reverence for Costner—because who doesn’t love a bit of 1990s mullet-lite Kev, fresh off Robin Hood, JFK, and Dances with Wolves? But even the biggest Costner fans on the panel can't deny that Frank Farmer spends the entire film doing his best impression of an emotionally constipated mannequin.

Meanwhile, G-Man marvels at the soundtrack that saved the film from mediocrity. From “I Have Nothing” to the megaton that is “I Will Always Love You,” Houston’s vocals are nothing short of breathtaking—and in the end, her voice gives the film its emotional punch. Damo finds himself emotionally moved by the final scene, where the music hits and we remember just how incredible Whitney was. Unfortunately, her performance as Rachel Marron doesn’t land quite as well with the crew. 

Plot holes? Yep, we got ‘em. From inexplicable security failures (three guards for the world’s biggest star?) to the mind-boggling moment where a would-be assassin uses a sniper rifle in a room full of Hollywood elites, the film is more Swiss cheese than suspense thriller. Not to mention the infamous scarf-on-the-sword scene, which leads the team to ponder whether a katana counts as foreplay and why no one, ever, draws a curtain in this movie.

But The Bodyguard (1992) isn’t without its joys. There’s the epic needle drops, a lakeside cabin that Damo would happily disappear to forever, and a cast of cartoonishly awful background characters that you’re almost rooting for the stalker. The guys also take a detour through Costner’s post-Bodyguard career trajectory, which includes Waterworld, The Postman, and the underrated Draft Day.

G-Man delivers his signature deep-dive into cast trivia, highlighting everything from Whitney’s early gospel roots to her connection with Dionne Warwick, and even a surprise one-degree link to Kurt Russell via the late great Bill Cobbs. There’s a healthy debate about whether The Bodyguard was a real movie or just a high-gloss showcase for a chart-topping soundtrack, and somehow, they still manage to rope in Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style, Inspector Gadget, and the concept of "vabbing" (yep, it's a thing now).

Of course, no episode is complete without the Born to Watch signature segments. The boys dish up their Good, the Bad, and the Ugly—from the iconic knife throw scene and amazing set design, to the complete lack of chemistry between the leads and questionable career choices made by everyone involved. Gage Roads supplies the brews, and Johnny Bull returns with a zinger straight outta Aliens. Oh, and Work Experience Kid cops some heat for trying to bring up brassieres in the Snob’s Report. Rookie move.

So, was The Bodyguard (1992) a misunderstood masterpiece, or a pop-cultural relic best left in the '90s CD rack? There’s only one way to find out. Plug in, turn up the volume, and get ready for the most musically dramatic episode Born to Watch has ever done.

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